Strategic Economic Pathway

The Economic Development Team acts as a catalyst and facilitator to stimulate economic growth by focussing on attracting major infrastructure projects, attracting new investment and assisting existing businesses with market knowledge and networks. Partnerships are critical for future economic prosperity. Networks and clusters are a means of harnessing resources, building capacity, developing skills and adopting new technologies. The Economic Development Team act as a link between industry and commerce and the State and Federal Governments.

The Strategic Economic Pathway (2017-2022) is designed to drive vigorous and sustainable growth in Ararat Rural City. It has a strong people and place focus, and harnesses development of agricultural markets, value adding to products and connectivity as the underpinnings of Ararat’s economic future. The Strategy recognises the need for the ongoing growth, development and innovation to support new investment and reduce production costs. It places a high premium on developing and innovation as strong drivers of the future economy. The Strategy lays a base for secure employment and worthwhile careers, and promotes measures that will ensure a supply pool of highly skilled workers to drive business and industry. It takes into account the need to hasten the emergence of the “new economy” based on advanced manufacturing, the adoption of new production methods and practices, investment in new technology and the acquisition and application of these technologies across all sectors of the Ararat economy.

Recent trends have created many changes to the environment that Ararat Rural City operates in. Factors such as globalisation of the Australian economy, the growth of eCommerce, the rapid population growth in Melbourne and nearby cities, and improvements to transport linkages, provide both opportunities and challenges to the economic wellbeing of the Ararat Rural City municipality.